Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AGEMERA (Agile Exploration and Geo-modelling for European Critical Raw materials)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-08-01 al 2024-01-31
Agile Exploration and Geo-modelling for European Critical Raw materials (AGEMERA) project uses innovative methods and technologies to unlock the EU’s resource potential, improve public knowledge of critical raw materials, and promote environmentally friendly mineral exploration.
The EU's Digital and Green Deal transition aims to secure its supply of Critical Raw Materials (CRM), essential to the European economy and various industries due to their unique, hard-to-substitute properties. With critical and strategic raw materials like copper and lithium, the EC highlights the challenge of relying heavily on imports due to low domestic reserves, threatening Europe's long-term autonomy and resilience. CRMs are crucial for sectors including automotive, defence and green technologies.
The AGEMERA project reunites partners from academia, business, and the mineral exploration industry, with the core mission of increasing access to primary raw materials and boosting Europe’s resilience. We aim to 1) unlock Europe’s CRM potential by identifying new areas of exploration for resources and developing innovative, environmentally-friendly methods and tools to source them and 2) take the pulse of local communities' concerns and hopes related to mineral exploration and mining by surveying citizens in the project's countries 3) raise awareness on the twin transition and importance of CRMs in everyday lives. 4) Promote the UNFC and UNRMS by educating future experts.
We will carry out geoscientific surveys in select sites across Europe (Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland) and Zambia, employing non-invasive techniques alongside other geophysical methods and existing geological data to assess the Critical Raw Material (CRM) potential. The collected data will be organized into an EGDI-compatible, GIS-based database. Additionally, we aim to enhance CRM awareness through educational materials, courses, workshops, and online content, while also engaging with local communities to understand their perspectives on mineral exploration and mining.
Our project unites diverse partners, blending academic expertise in geology and socio-economics with SMEs' innovative exploration techniques and industrial partners' trial sites. AGEMERA's collaboration spans 10 European countries and Zambia, creating a comprehensive and complementary consortium.
www.agemera.eu
The EU's Digital and Green Deal transition aims to secure its supply of Critical Raw Materials (CRM), essential to the European economy and various industries due to their unique, hard-to-substitute properties. With critical and strategic raw materials like copper and lithium, the EC highlights the challenge of relying heavily on imports due to low domestic reserves, threatening Europe's long-term autonomy and resilience. CRMs are crucial for sectors including automotive, defence and green technologies.
The AGEMERA project reunites partners from academia, business, and the mineral exploration industry, with the core mission of increasing access to primary raw materials and boosting Europe’s resilience. We aim to 1) unlock Europe’s CRM potential by identifying new areas of exploration for resources and developing innovative, environmentally-friendly methods and tools to source them and 2) take the pulse of local communities' concerns and hopes related to mineral exploration and mining by surveying citizens in the project's countries 3) raise awareness on the twin transition and importance of CRMs in everyday lives. 4) Promote the UNFC and UNRMS by educating future experts.
We will carry out geoscientific surveys in select sites across Europe (Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland) and Zambia, employing non-invasive techniques alongside other geophysical methods and existing geological data to assess the Critical Raw Material (CRM) potential. The collected data will be organized into an EGDI-compatible, GIS-based database. Additionally, we aim to enhance CRM awareness through educational materials, courses, workshops, and online content, while also engaging with local communities to understand their perspectives on mineral exploration and mining.
Our project unites diverse partners, blending academic expertise in geology and socio-economics with SMEs' innovative exploration techniques and industrial partners' trial sites. AGEMERA's collaboration spans 10 European countries and Zambia, creating a comprehensive and complementary consortium.
www.agemera.eu
WP1 emphasized CRM deposit characterization and modelling, integrating field research, data collection, and computer-based modelling to enhance understanding of CRM potential. It involved compiling extensive databases, conducting field research and sampling in multiple countries, and developing new mineral system data and models. Advances were made in understanding crustal structures and mineralization through innovative surveys and modelling. A key achievement is the creation of an over 2000-datapoint, database hosted on the UOulu geoserver, with data transfer to the EGDI database underway to align with FAIR principles.
WP2 2 tackled the social sustainability and acceptance of mineral exploration and mining, aiming to understand local and broader societal perspectives through various methods. This included a SoftGIS-based questionnaire in Northern Finland, small group interviews in partner countries, university courses on critical raw materials, and public awareness events. Preparations for a multi-country questionnaire launch have been made, with achievements such as a successful Finnish questionnaire pilot, interview planning, and the development of educational courses set for launch in 3/24.
WP3 focused on developing non-invasive mineral exploration techniques, involving research into drone-based, muon-based, and passive seismic methods. Advances included improvements in drone technology, equipment calibration, muography system development (including technology and software), and pilot studies in operational environments. Progress in passive seismic methods featured calibration and algorithm validation, with work extending into the final period.
WP4 aimed at improving geological exploration with advanced data handling, including innovative reduction and visualization methods, transitioning from 1D to 3D EM inversion for better interpretation, and enhancing muon data analysis software. A data-sharing protocol and a platform for geophysical data visualization were established. Validation involved data collection and modeling to link geological and mining activities with data observations, marking collaborative progress in geological data analysis for future exploration technologies.
WP2 2 tackled the social sustainability and acceptance of mineral exploration and mining, aiming to understand local and broader societal perspectives through various methods. This included a SoftGIS-based questionnaire in Northern Finland, small group interviews in partner countries, university courses on critical raw materials, and public awareness events. Preparations for a multi-country questionnaire launch have been made, with achievements such as a successful Finnish questionnaire pilot, interview planning, and the development of educational courses set for launch in 3/24.
WP3 focused on developing non-invasive mineral exploration techniques, involving research into drone-based, muon-based, and passive seismic methods. Advances included improvements in drone technology, equipment calibration, muography system development (including technology and software), and pilot studies in operational environments. Progress in passive seismic methods featured calibration and algorithm validation, with work extending into the final period.
WP4 aimed at improving geological exploration with advanced data handling, including innovative reduction and visualization methods, transitioning from 1D to 3D EM inversion for better interpretation, and enhancing muon data analysis software. A data-sharing protocol and a platform for geophysical data visualization were established. Validation involved data collection and modeling to link geological and mining activities with data observations, marking collaborative progress in geological data analysis for future exploration technologies.
The AGEMERA project aims to enhance CRM exploration and knowledge across Europe and Zambia, focusing on non-invasive exploration techniques like passive seismic methods, drone systems, and muon-based detection. Progress includes advancements in data analysis algorithms, equipment, and deployment of these technologies, facilitating eco-friendly CRM exploration, unlocking new resources, and minimizing biodiversity impact.
Furthermore, the project has conducted extensive geoscientific surveys and studies across several countries, leading, in the future, to an improved geological understanding and the development of new genetic models for CRM hosting deposits. This enhances the ability to identify new exploration areas, support the more targeted mineral exploration limiting the actions to more prominent areas, and facilitates resource estimation, potentially leading to increased CRM availability.
Additionally, AGEMERA has carried out widespread geoscientific surveys, fostering enhanced geological insights and new CRM deposit models. This supports identifying new exploration zones, enables focused mineral exploration in key areas, and aids in resource estimation, potentially boosting CRM availability.
In public awareness and education, significant results include a questionnaire piloted to gauge local views on mineral exploration and mining's social sustainability within local communities and economies. This tool examines perceptions of Social Licence to Operate (SLO) and Social Licence to Explore (SLE), factors influencing them, and the mineral industry's social sustainability impact. It will be launched in five countries 3/24.
Lastly, the AGEMERA project has facilitated international collaborations, especially with friendly third countries like Zambia, and promoted the commercialization of innovative exploration technologies. To ensure further uptake and success, the project highlights the need for continued research, demonstration activities, commercialization efforts, international collaboration, and supportive policies. Strengthening international partnerships, protecting innovations through IPR support, and targeted strategies for the international expansion of European exporation technologies are crucial steps forward.
Furthermore, the project has conducted extensive geoscientific surveys and studies across several countries, leading, in the future, to an improved geological understanding and the development of new genetic models for CRM hosting deposits. This enhances the ability to identify new exploration areas, support the more targeted mineral exploration limiting the actions to more prominent areas, and facilitates resource estimation, potentially leading to increased CRM availability.
Additionally, AGEMERA has carried out widespread geoscientific surveys, fostering enhanced geological insights and new CRM deposit models. This supports identifying new exploration zones, enables focused mineral exploration in key areas, and aids in resource estimation, potentially boosting CRM availability.
In public awareness and education, significant results include a questionnaire piloted to gauge local views on mineral exploration and mining's social sustainability within local communities and economies. This tool examines perceptions of Social Licence to Operate (SLO) and Social Licence to Explore (SLE), factors influencing them, and the mineral industry's social sustainability impact. It will be launched in five countries 3/24.
Lastly, the AGEMERA project has facilitated international collaborations, especially with friendly third countries like Zambia, and promoted the commercialization of innovative exploration technologies. To ensure further uptake and success, the project highlights the need for continued research, demonstration activities, commercialization efforts, international collaboration, and supportive policies. Strengthening international partnerships, protecting innovations through IPR support, and targeted strategies for the international expansion of European exporation technologies are crucial steps forward.